United States Geological Survey

United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States Department of the Interior, focused on studying the Earth and its natural resources, in collaboration with National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The agency's work is closely tied to that of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The United States Congress has authorized the agency to investigate and report on the geological structure, mineral resources, and natural hazards of the United States, often in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

● History

The agency was established on March 3, 1879, with Clarence King as its first director, and has since been involved in numerous significant projects, including the Hayden Geological Survey of 1871, led by Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden, and the Wheeler Survey, led by George Montague Wheeler. The agency's early work was influenced by the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the Mexican-American War, and it has collaborated with the National Geographic Society and the American Geosciences Institute. The agency has also worked closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Science Foundation to advance the field of geology and understand the geography of the United States, including the Grand Canyon and the Yellowstone National Park.

● Organization

The agency is headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with major offices in Denver, Colorado, and Menlo Park, California, and is organized into several major divisions, including the Geologic Hazards Science Center, the National Minerals Information Center, and the Earth Resources Observation and Science Center. The agency is led by a Director, who is appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate, and works closely with the Secretary of the Interior and the Office of Management and Budget. The agency also collaborates with the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Institutes of Health to advance the field of earth science and understand the environment of the United States, including the Everglades and the Gulf of Mexico.

● Responsibilities

The agency is responsible for investigating and reporting on the geology and natural resources of the United States, including minerals, energy resources, and water resources, in partnership with the Bureau of Reclamation and the Tennessee Valley Authority. The agency also provides scientific information and advice to the Federal Government and the public on issues related to natural hazards, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides, and works closely with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. The agency's work is closely tied to that of the National Weather Service and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction, and it collaborates with the University of California, Berkeley and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to advance the field of earth science and understand the climate of the United States, including the El Niño-Southern Oscillation and the North Atlantic Oscillation.

● Research_and_Development

The agency conducts research and development in a wide range of areas, including geophysics, geochemistry, and hydrology, in partnership with the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy. The agency also develops and applies new technologies, such as remote sensing and geographic information systems, to advance the field of earth science and understand the environment of the United States, including the Amazon rainforest and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The agency collaborates with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Godard Space Flight Center to advance the field of space exploration and understand the universe, including the Mars Exploration Program and the International Space Station.

● Major_Programs

The agency has several major programs, including the National Streamflow Information Program, the National Water-Quality Assessment Program, and the Earthquake Hazards Program, which work closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross. The agency also has a major program in climate change research, which collaborates with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to understand the climate of the United States, including the Keeling Curve and the hockey stick graph. The agency's work is closely tied to that of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the United Nations Environment Programme, and it collaborates with the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge to advance the field of earth science and understand the environment of the United States, including the Grand Canyon and the Yellowstone National Park.

● Notable_Employees

The agency has had many notable employees, including John Wesley Powell, who led the Powell Geographic Expedition and served as the agency's second director, and Charles Doolittle Walcott, who served as the agency's director from 1894 to 1907 and was a prominent figure in the field of paleontology. The agency has also employed many notable scientists, including Mary Anning, who discovered several important fossil specimens, and Louis Leakey, who was a prominent figure in the field of paleoanthropology. The agency's work is closely tied to that of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and it collaborates with the California Institute of Technology and the Carnegie Institution for Science to advance the field of earth science and understand the environment of the United States, including the San Andreas Fault and the Yellowstone Caldera. Category:Government agencies